Media Advisory - Sixteen-year-old girl's Wish to meet Celebrity YouTube Star to be granted!

CALGARY, March 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Sixteen-year-old Violet is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Her most heartfelt Wish is to meet YouTube sensation, Ryan Higa. To cap off the month of March, Children's Wish Month in Alberta, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is holding a very special surprise event to grant Violet her wish.

Who:     Violet, Wish Child

What:    Wish Granting Event featuring Ryan Higa, YouTube sensation

Where: The CORE Shopping Centre - 324 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB (third floor, by Holt Renfrew)

When:  Thursday, March 31 at 11:55 a.m.

Ryan has recorded a special video which will be broadcast at the event, revealing to Violet that she will be flying to Las Vegas to meet him a week later. Following the event, Violet will return to school where another surprise party is being held for her, this time orchestrated by her schoolmates and staff. Prior to the event, Violet will receive a special pampering courtesy of The CORE under the ruse of a 'gift from mom for good behaviour'.

For the purpose of maintaining the surprise, we request Violet's name be withheld from public usage until the event occurs.

Violet's Story
In 2012 Violet was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 13. Her ALL treatment made her frequently sick, and left her without the energy to leave the house. She was unable to see her friends or go to school during this time, making each day a difficult one.

What kept her in good spirits was laughter and she loved watching funny videos on YouTube. Her favorite YouTube star is Ryan Higa, a comedian from Hawaii. She has followed Ryan's videos since she was a little girl. During her treatments she would watch his videos – such as ShamWOOHOO, which she watched over 50 times – to stay positive.

Ryan Higa's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/nigahiga
Twitter: @TheRealRyanHiga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/higatv/

About Children's Wish Month:
Children's Wish Month is dedicated to celebrating the Wish Children, donors, and volunteers who allow The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada to grant the most heartfelt wish to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Already this year, we are experiencing unprecedented increases of wish referrals through our strong medical community relationships. 'Children's Wish Month' is a time to rally Albertans to donate and support Children's Wish in helping us to continue to grant heartfelt wishes.

To show your support, use the hashtag #ChildrensWishMonth throughout the month of March.

For those individuals looking to donate their time or funds to grant the single most heartfelt wish of a child, please visit:
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?eventid=140537&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.childrenswish.ca%2fen-ab%2fget-involved.htm

About The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is the largest all-Canadian wish granting charity dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  For more than 30 years, Children's Wish has worked tirelessly to grant heartfelt wishes to more than 23,000 children and their families.

This year, the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada expects to grant over 1,000 new wishes across the country with the help of volunteers and generous donors; that is approximately three wishes each and every day, all year long.  The AB/NWT chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation has granted more than 2,000 Wishes and will grant more than 130 Wishes this year! Each wish is the child's most heartfelt wish, and carefully structured to meet the particular needs of the child and their family.

Already this year, we are experiencing unprecedented increases of wish referrals through our strong medical community relationships for our wishes granted to children with life-threatening illnesses. Now more than ever, we are encouraging Canadians to donate and support The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada to help us continue to grant the next most heartfelt wish. Children's Wish is a national charity with chapters in every province and territory. Visit www.childrenswish.ca for more information and to donate.

Twitter: @ChildrensWishAB
Instagram: @childrenswishab
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChildrensWishAB/

SOURCE The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

Image with caption: "Children's Wish Month (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160328_C6521_PHOTO_EN_651490.jpg

For further information: Rhys Dowbiggin, Communications Specialist, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, AB/NWT Chapter, T 587.880.3252, M 587.889.1613, E rhys.dowbiggin@childrenswish.ca

RELATED LINKS
http://www.childrenswish.ca